Books that are long/hard but suitable for younger kids (age 7)

[Highreadingability]

Hi

My son (7) is an avid reader and books are his safe thing. It’s what he does to wind down and he reads a 200+ page book most evenings. No intention of this being a humble brag (son is likely neurodivergent and is absolutely terrible at maths and sport).

He has read a lot of the better known books that seem aimed at younger kids but are a decent length (How to Train Your Dragon, first couple of Harry Potter, Roald Dahl, Dragon Realm, Peanut Jones are examples of what he’s read recently.) and I’m finding more and more that the books I’m pulling off the shelves at the library to skim through are pretty dark/obviously aimed at older kids.

Please could you give any suggestions for me to look at?

Demon Headmaster series

I’ve also read a lot of Ben Miller’s books with my son and we’ve both enjoyed them. He’s read the first Warrior Cat book mentioned above and enjoyed that too. I’ll have a look at his bookshelf tomorrow and see if there’s anything else to mention! I remember Einstein the Penguin being a nice, gentle read.

Charlotte's Web
The Switch by Anthony Horowitz

I used to love the Redwall series (Brian Jacques) at this age. I was a huge reader as a child and this really drew me in.

Here too, and we’ve read everything else by Jenny McLachlin too!

We’ve read all the Tom Fletcher books but these will probably come out again at Christmas!

I have similar issues with my DD. Some suggestions:

"The book of stolen dreams" and "Secret of the blood red key" by David Farr.
"The boy to beat the gods' by Ashley Thorpe.

Not hard but nice slightly longer books with lovely messages - normally done in around year 6 of primary as a class read

boy at the back of the class
holes
wonder

Michael morpogo are all good too as classics

Slightly harder longer but age appropriate are
Storm of Sisters trilogy
Impossible creatures
Wizards of once - very long! Cressida cowell

also - borrowers is great but sentence structures are long

It’s not the worry that he would download things, it’s the way he can’t distinguish between the fact that some books can be read on a Kindle and others have to be paper for cost reasons and it’s not a choice (see first post - he’s suspected neurodivergent and this is the type of thing he would get worked up about). He’d end up obsessing that he couldn’t read everything on the Kindle, as we simply can’t afford to buy books at £8 or so a go.

As it stands, I’m happy to buy paper books cheaply, use the library and borrow books from school but introducing a Kindle when he’s happy with paper books isn’t something I’m keen on for the above reasons.

he might like the Jennings and Derbyshire books
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennings_(novel_series)
they are very funny and not burdened with nuance, but quite demanding of literacy if I remember right- I was very entertained by them at about that age - they portray a very foreign world, but that didn't put me off

He’s read all of the David Williams books several times (but hates the show!).

I also came to say the Mr Penguin books. Our library had them in stock. Big, wordy books but great for seven year olds.

Can't remember first name of author (Jenny??) but someone Pennypacker has several that might suit (my daughter loved Pax at a similar age)

He’s already enjoyed the Dragon Realm books and we’ve got the Skandar set for Christmas (unless he needs more books earlier) as we saw it cheap.

I’ll look into the others!

He’s read quite a few Ben Miller, but not all (yet).

I think I remember the penguin book but I may be confusing it with another!

Has he read any of the Mr Gum books?

Is this the penguin that goes on adventures (in a plane?)? We’ve read a fair few of those and enjoyed them!

@Highreadingability

I've only skimmed the first of the Warrior Cat books which I was happy for DS to read. I don't think they're aimed at teenagers particularly- probably upper KS2? There are battles and deaths and injuries: it depends whether your DS is upset by that kind of content really.

Re Kindles: DS' one is locked down and I have to add all content via my account. He isn't able to buy things himself.

Yep. Haha.
I bet he's also read Mr Gum series? My son has just started those now.

I do this with my DM too and have done it for the Dc in the past.

The Dark is Rising trilogy by Susan Cooper is great. They're described as 8-12 so have a look and see if you think they're suitable but I'm pretty sure I was reading them around 7-9.

Sorry just seen already recommended!

I absolutely loved reading those books to my two

David Walliams books are great for young readers

The Redwall series by Brian Jacques for sure!

The Paddington series - the chapter books, not the little kid books! The vocabulary is expansive and they’re an easy before bed read for the advanced young child, in my opinion.

I’ll reveal my US citizenship here but if you can get your hands on the Hardy Boys mystery series, they were targeted for like 12yr olds but are an easy after-school read with a vocabulary that keeps them from being childish. (The main characters are 17 and 18 but the content isn’t dark whatsoever.)

I've seen a few have recommended Enid Blyton and I know she's a bit controversial but I absolutely adored the Adventure Series. Read them over and over again.
I also loved Famous 5 but the adventure series was better.

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede is great, about a princess who runs away to live with dragons rather than be a princess.

"Wanted: One dragon", by Beth Webb is also really lovely.